A new report from a German researcher is calling for more older adults to begin taking vitamin D supplements, as the vast majority of these individuals likely have dangerously low levels of the nutrient.

Researcher Stefan Schiller tested the vitamin D levels of more than 1,500 patients at nursing homes in Germany. He found that 89 percent had insufficient levels of the nutrient, while 67 percent had more severe deficiencies.

He said that the Institute of Medicine recommends that seniors get 800 international units of vitamin D each day, but that individuals who do not take supplements rarely get this amount. The best source of vitamin D is the sun, but few seniors spend enough time outdoors for their body to produce adequate levels of the nutrient.

Therefore, individuals over the age of 70 should consider taking nutritional supplements containing the nutrient. Vitamin D plays a central role in supporting bone health, an area of well-being that may already be compromised in seniors. The bodies of many older people cannot afford a deficiency of this vital nutrient.